How to take your website from good to GREAT

31 Oct

All business owners will agree that having a website is essential these days (if you don’t agree then we really ought to talk); it’s part of the foundation of any marketing plan whether you run a business or a not-for-profit. If you have a message to get out there then chances are you’ll need a website to help you do that. My clients will often say ‘yeah we have a website’. But simply ‘having’ a website is not enough. You need a website that works for you, one that can be found on Google, one that tells your unique story, and one that resonates with your audience, otherwise, it is just words and pictures on a page. So I’ve put together a bit of a checklist to help ensure your website is doing the work you need it to do. Build the following into your website strategy and to take your website from good to GREAT.

Have a clear purpose.

What do you need the website to do for your business? Are you trying to inform people about a product or service you offer or a cause you support, are you trying to sell products to people, are you trying to get bookings for your service, are you trying to teach people, are you trying to sell membership, are you trying to encourage donations? Get clear on what you are wanting to achieve that will help inform and refine the navigation, flow and content for your website.

Define your audience.

Have you identified and profiled your ideal client or customer? The website isn’t about you - it’s about them. What do they want to see on your website, how will they use your website, what will resonate with them, what will make them click ‘add to cart’, ‘book now’, or ‘make a donation’.

Reflect your brand story.

Use your brand identity consistently across all mediums including your website. I don’t just mean your logo - it’s all-encompassing including the colours and the fonts, the image style, and even the language and tone of voice. Is your brand personality quirky and cute or is it formal and professional? Is it more elegant and sophisticated or does it lean towards cheeky and adventurous? Define your brand personality and it will help with the words and images you choose and the tone you portray. It all comes together to tell your own individual story.

Relevant content with your own spin updated often.

Keep your content relevant to your customer/industry/story/brand. Identify your niche and stick to it to avoid confusion about what you stand for. Updating your site with new content is important for a number of reasons including providing value to your visitors, encouraging them to re-visit for more and to keep your site search engine friendly. Blog regularly or add to your ‘news’ page, use an event or calendar function, add new products or specials or update a a ‘feature products’ or ‘best sellers’ section.

Use strong ‘calls to action’ (CTAs).

Make use of clear signals and ways for people to connect further and deeper and with your brand - lead them through your content and encourage them to take a specific action. A CTA could be as simple as a ‘shop now’ button or it could be a more stepped approach where you add value by providing a resource that may address a pain point in exchange for their email address.

Balance function / style / budget.

Your budget is not endless so it is important to ensure the budget is allocated in such a way that is fit for purpose. Weigh up the cost benefits based on the best compromise between design/function/cost that is right for you and your audience. Don’t get lured in by fancy design and functionality that you just don’t need. Go custom when it is required but consider out-of-the-box solutions as they may be able to be tailored to suit your needs.

Try to enjoy the process.

Most of all, just try and enjoy it. If you follow the above guidelines, the end result will be rewarding and something you can be proud of because it will be a reflection of your story. It will be something you are excited about sharing and your audience will sense that authenticity.

And of course if you want to chat through any or all of the above, please reach out - I love coffee and I love talking about websites so I’m always happy to meet and chat about how we can help take your website from good to GREAT!

Cheers, Kim

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project. Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth. And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz